ARC Raiders HubARC Raiders Hub
NEWS||4 min read

Gear Up for the Second Expedition| Depth Reward Analysis & Complete Departure Guide

By Arc Raiders Team
Gear Up for the Second Expedition| Depth Reward Analysis & Complete Departure Guide

Gear Up for the Second Expedition: Depth Reward Analysis & Complete Departure Guide | Expedition Arc Raiders

Expedition Hero

The Departure Window for the Second Expedition is now officially open. For every Raider living in the Rust Belt, this is not just an opportunity to reinvent yourself and begin the next stage of evolution, but the key to surviving in a deadly world by accumulating long-term advantages. This news article will analyze in depth the core changes and lucrative rewards brought by the Second Expedition.

Expedition Infographic

Behavior Stage 3. (See ARC wiki page for details)

1. What is an Expedition? (Understanding The Expedition)

The Expedition is the core progression loop system of ARC Raiders. By spending resources and time to complete 6 stages of "Caravan" construction, players can earn the right to depart. Departing during specific window periods means your character will leave the Rust Belt, saying goodbye to most of their current supplies and levels, in exchange for permanent bonuses and unique honors across cycles. This is a must for all core players pursuing ultimate character strength.

Expedition Project

2. Core Rewards of the Second Expedition (Core Rewards)

1. Permanent Asset Upgrades

This is the most valuable part of the Expedition. No matter how many cycles you go through in the future, these benefits will be permanently retained:

  • Massive Stash Expansion: After successfully completing the Second Expedition, your account's Stash capacity will permanently increase from 12 slots to 24 slots. This will greatly relieve backpack pressure when you're looting rare components.
  • Starting Skill Points (Skill Points): The starting bonus provided by this Expedition is increased by 0-5 points. Combined with the catch-up mechanic mentioned below, veteran Raiders of the Second Expedition can have a maximum of 85 total Skill Points, allowing you to unlock key combat traits during the "pioneering" phase after the reset.
  • Cosmetic Asset Evolution:
    • Patchwork Suit: This classic suit has received a visual upgrade, adding 4 unique detail toggles and 2 exquisite new colorways.
    • Scrappy Exclusive Accessories: Unlock decorative elements unique to the second stage, showing off your seniority to other players.
    • Expedition Indicator Icon: The Expedition icon next to your personal level will receive an advanced lighting effect, recording your contribution to the fate of humanity.

2. Consecutive Departure Advantages

If you stay diligent and don't miss a departure during consecutive window periods, you'll gain stackable "Expedition Morale" bonuses (stacks up to 3 times):

  • Experience (XP) Gain: 10% extra boost (doubled from the base 5%).
  • Scrappy Material Drop Rate: 12% drop buff (doubled from the base 6%).
  • Equipment Repair Value: Efficiency boosted by an extra 10% (reaching a total of 70% repair feedback rate).

[!WARNING] Risk Warning: If you miss a registration and departure in a season, all "consecutive rewards" above will be immediately wiped out, and you must start accumulating them again.

3. Brand New: The Catchup Mechanic

Fell behind due to missing the first Expedition? The brand-new skill point catch-up system is now live. It allows wealthy Raiders to quickly make up for previous skill gaps through asset investment:

  • Resource Conversion: Now you only need to collect 300,000 Stash Value per point to redeem a previously missed skill point.
  • Evaluation Logic: At the moment of departure, the system will prioritize ensuring you receive the default skill points for the Second Expedition. If your total assets are still abundant, the excess will automatically be consumed to fill in any previous skill gaps.

4. Pre-Departure "Survival List" (The Reset Checklist)

The following contents will be reset upon your departure:

  • Resources: All cash, levels, unused coins, Cred, and Merits.
  • Exploration: Map areas that are not permanently locked (such as Buried City or The Blue Gate), and all ongoing quest progress.

The following contents will be permanently retained:

  • Knowledge: All unlocked weapon and armor blueprints.
  • Achievements: Raider tokens, Stash space, cosmetic collections, and Medals progress.

5. Important Timeline

  • Registration and Asset Evaluation Period: February 25, 2026 - March 1, 2026
  • Official Departure Time: March 1, 2026 (UTC)

[!IMPORTANT] Please complete all 6 construction stages of the Caravan and manually click "Register for Departure" in the system menu before March 1, otherwise you will not be able to trigger the rewards and will lose your consecutive bonuses.

Raider Departure Advice

  1. Clear Inventory: Before leaving, splurge all your Spare Parts to buy consumables, or donate them to teammates who aren't planning to depart.
  2. Unlock High-Tier Blueprints: Prioritize using excess resources to unlock those expensive weapon blueprints (like the Experimental series) that are extremely hard to acquire in later levels.
  3. Maximize Assets: Remember to make a few final looting runs in high-value areas (like High-Risk Zones) before the window closes, to ensure you trigger the catch-up mechanism.

Visit the in-site Wiki Expedition portal for more technical details